• Check in, centering, balanced hatha yoga set considering contraindications, relaxation (with imagery as appropriate),
• Balanced pranayama considering contraindications, meditation/centering.
• Include at least one suggestion from Karma, Bhakti, Raja, or Jnana Yoga tailored for this client.

Practice: Embodied Surya Namaskar of her choice (Lord's Prayer or Psalm 23), as well as the twists and happy baby. Goal is two times/week, and if she is able to practice more frequently, great!

Continue: Dirga Swasam with her imagery.

Continue: Pratipaksha Bhavana - with a focus on visual images/vision board. She mentioned having several pictures on her phone that she loves and are calming for her. What if she printed one or a few and placed them in spaces in her home to help her feel lighter in that space?

Check In

Awareness Practice

Asana: Embodied Lord's Prayer -> Embodied Psalm 23

Ardha Matsyendrasana and Supta Matsyendrasana

Ananda Balasana

Raja: Pratipaksha Bhavana

Client arrived to the session much more sattvic than prior session, with much more balanced energy and peace. She reported that Dirga Swasam with imagery had been very helpful for her - she had begun recognizing when she was not breathing/holding her breath. She began to cue herself to relax her shoulders, and would close her eyes to connect with the imagery of breathing in healing light while exhaling the "dark smoke". She stated that she had been previously diagnosed with a sensory processing sensitivity (this was not previously mentioned on her intake or during assessment), and she had noticed that her sensitivity was more triggering at work. As a result she had made some changes to her work environment: turning off all but one fluorescent light in her office, and playing some soothing music in the background. She had also begun to make some changes in her nutrition, eating a salad daily and reducing her consumption of bread, which she knew aggravated her gastroparesis.

She engaged well and enjoyed the Embodied Lord's Prayer Surya Namaskar practice. She mentioned how much she loves Psalm 23, so together we explored Embodying it through Surya Namaskar (I told her I had never done it before, so we were learning and practicing together.) She enjoyed that practice as well.

After standing practice I guided her through the seated and supine twist variations, cuing attention to her breath and sensations she was feeling in her body, especially in the abdominal regions. Using ahimsa as a guide, I encouraged her to find the "goldilock's spot: not too much, not too little" with each asana, then practicing happy baby prior to shavasana.

She had an endoscopy and colonoscopy on the 22nd of April, advising that samples were taken from her stomach and esophagus which were "inflamed." She will update when results known. In the meantime she is taking Prilosec in the morning and Pepsid in the evening.

I was so encouraged to hear how, despite the challenges she was managing during our last session, she embraced her homework practices and made so many choices to support her healing. I left this session with more joy than I have any other session with any client so far - I felt I had truly been of service in sharing tools of yoga. The fact that she embraced her homework practices with enthusiasm leads me to believe I can explore more with her, and even give a little more homework after our next session.

I did not get to introduce her to the Agni Sara practice, so I will carry that over to our next session. As well I would like to explore Mudras that could support healthier digestion.